For the first time in many years the Hunter region's detection (incidence) figures for prostate cancer have risen and are equivalent to figures in Sydney. (NSW Cancer Registry)

This is good news because it means we can do something about the cancers that are being detected. Early detection of prostate cancer increases the likelihood of full cure.

We believe that the increase in detection is due to the fact that in 2004 and 2005 there was a lot of media attention on prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia launched their campaign and a local Australian trials group announced that hormone therapy was proving effective as a treatment.

Unfortunately, the mortality rate remains high in the Hunter at 37% greater than Sydney. This high rate hasn't changed for a number of years.

In 2007 the Prostate Survival Alliance launched a media campaign to increase awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage early detection. Data collected from the main pathology laboratories for this period is indicating that the "early diagnosis" campaign has been very successful. The number of PSA tests being done has increased by more than two-fold.

The results of this increase in PSA testing will become evident when the 2006 and 2007 incidence and mortality figures are released by the NSW Cancer Registry. The Prostate Survival Alliance predicts that the detection rates will be higher than in Sydney.

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